Top photo-blogs of Rome

After falling in love with Italian culture & history, Jessica moved to Rome in 2005, and each day she shares another photo of the City. Below is a photo of the monument to the Bersaglieri corps who stormed Rome in 1870 to bring an end to the power of the Pope and unifying Rome with Italy

Angela is a navy wife based in Sicily, and had a mission to see the less touristy part of Rome. She stayed at the Residenza Belli in the Trastevere suburb of Rome and in the best tradition wondered the streets taking photos of the Orto Botanico (Botanical Gardens), Church of Saint Celia, Church of Saint Mary, Gianicolo Hill, the Jewish Ghetto (including Turtle Fountain), the Piazzale Garibaldi, Portico d'Ottavia and the Piazza Navona. My favourite was this photo she took of the Piazza Navona:

Top 5 things to see in Rome

Colosseum

Roman Forum

Vatican City

Fontana di Trevi

Vittorio Emanuele II monument

Top 5 family-friendly attactions in Rome

Villa Borghese

St. Peter’s Basilica

Explora Museum

Bioparco (Rome’s Zoo)

Villa Ada

Free attractions in Rome

Visit the Pantheon, a former pagan temple converted into a church, see the Trevi Fountain (throwing coins in for good luck is optional), scale the Spanish Steps, , and spend time in the Piazza Campo dei Fiori and the Piazza Navona.

Save money by seeing the free attractions. On the last Sunday of the month, the Vatican Museums and the Capitoline Museums on Piazza del Campidoglio offer free entrance. The Galleria Nazionale Di San Luca on Piazza dell'Accademia di San Luca offers free entrance on the last Sunday of the month as well as all Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Wander the Appia Antica, the old road out of Rome. No cars are allowed on Sundays and there are plenty of ancient things to see on this stroll. Enjoy the free guided tours of the Appian Way Park.

Worst things about Rome

Many walls, windows and even ruins have been defaced with graffiti.

Petty theft

Having to watch out for the numerous dog poop landmines

Selected Roman history

1946

The new year tradition of diving into the Tiber River begins, when a lifeguard trying to find work leaps into the river from the Cavour Bridge to advertise his skills.

536

The Roman Emperor Justinian's general Belisarius occup Rome, taking it from the barbarians.

476

The barbarians depose the Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus.

21 Apr 753BC

According to Roman legend, Romulus starts digging a trench to build a wall along Rome's boundaries.

Accommodation in Rome

Save money by staying in one of the convents in Rome that take paying guests. The rooms are spartan, but often well located and peaceful, and give you a unique experience. Some only take Catholic guests, but many welcome all travellers. Many have a curfew, usually around 11pm.

Eating in Rome

Save your budget by avoiding the temptation to eat at sit-down restaurants - they are pricey in Rome. Instead drink coffee and eat breakfast standing up, buy pizzas by the slice from vendors, eat cheap ice-cream and shop at the food stores or markets, picnic as much as possible. When you do eat at sit-down restaurants, remember that lunch menus are the best value.